TRICARE won’t cover over-the-counter birth control pill – By Meghann Myers (Military Times) / Oct 24, 2023
The first over-the-counter birth control pill available in the U.S. has been Food and Drug Administration-approved since July, but the military’s health insurance isn’t stocking or covering it, according to a letter several senators sent to the Defense Department on Monday.
The lawmakers hope that the non-prescription pill will increase access to contraceptives for service members and their dependents.
“Studies show that requiring prescriptions for contraception can be a barrier to access due to prolonged appointment wait times, difficulty scheduling time off from work, and challenges finding childcare during medical appointment times — hurdles that are exacerbated by the nature of military service,” the letter reads. “The prescription requirement in part contributes to the lower rate of contraception use among active duty service members compared to the national population.”
